Shelley, 21, has won Maxim's Little Black Book 2005, featuring 101 of Britain's sexiest girls, after more than 5,000 readers sent texts asking her for a date.

The achievement is all the more remarkable as the competition was the first piece of modelling she has done, and her photos were sent in by a friend without her knowing.

Shelley said: "My first reaction was disbelief.

"It's crazy, but I'm very flattered. A friend sent in the photos behind my back and the first I knew about it was when I opened the magazine and saw myself in there. I was shocked."

But the former Cheadle Hulme school pupil, who is now in her second year at Manchester Metropolitan University, intends on continuing with her fashion design degree and only modelling part time while she studies.

She said: "I've signed the contract so I'm officially on their books but they do know that I am a student. I plan to go and do my photo shoots when I can. That's the beauty of it, for the jobs I get I get paid."

Shelley has already done photo shoots in London and is currently putting together a portfolio which will allow her to gain future modelling work.

Greg Gutfeld, Maxim editor, said: "Maxim is very proud of discovering Shelley, who clearly is one of the most beautiful creatures to ever come from Stockport. We're also very happy that we are able to say we know her, before she gets rich and famous and stops talking to us."

Shelley's latest photo shoot is in this month's Maxim which goes on sale tomorrow (Thurs).